The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee passed a bill to restructure the nation's rail pension system, improving its financial health and aiding widows. The May 16 action sends H.R. 1140 to the House floor.

"This will provide a guaranteed minimum benefit for surviving spouses, who have suffered deep reductions in benefits when a retiree passes away," said Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers President Edward Dubroski, chair of the AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department's Rail Labor Division.

The bill also cuts the retirement age for long-time workers, repeals benefits caps, improves the system's solvency and provides health insurance for retirees starting at age 60, he said. Contrary to a Bush budget claim, "no taxpayer dollars will be used to expand these benefits," Dubroski said.

This article was written by Press Associates, Inc. news service. Used with permission.